Photo type setting machines



0d. 17, 1967 D. s. RITCHIE PHOTO TYPE SETTING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 29, 1965 Inventor DAVID SCARTH Erma-us @ct. 17, 1967 D. s. RITCHIE PHOTO TYPE SETTING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 29, 1965 Inventor DAVID Senna-n4 Rn-rcu-u E Attorneys Dct. 17, 1967 D. s. RITCHIE PHOTO TYPE SETTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 29, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 lnqenlor IIII II r vxh DAVID SCARTH Qrrcms masm eouu i'iom A tforneyg Dot. 17, 1967 D. s. RITCHIE 3,347,140

PHOTO TYPE SETTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 29, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 DAVID SCARTH Rrrcmz Wasow United States Patent 3,347,140 PHOTO TYPE SETTING MACHINES David S. Ritchie, Caxton St., Anniesland, Glasgow W.3, Scotland Filed Jan. 29, 1965, Ser. No. 429,328 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Feb. 1, 1964, 4,374/64 7 Claims. (Cl. 954.5)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A photo-setting machine having a main platen and a proof platen with an image splitting means projecting identical images on each and a rotative drive means connected to a letter spacing drive to rotate each platen a given amount to achieve proper letter spacing for nonlinear printing.

Photo-setting machines generally comprise a lettering head where high quality photoprint is produced on film, and a projection system which includes a letter holder on which are provided the various symbols that may be printed, a light source for illuminating a selected symbol that is to be printed, an optical system for passing the image of the selected symbol to the film and a drive mechanism under the control of the letter holder for producing movement of the letter image on the film.

Heretofore proposed photo-setting machines produce photoprint in single or multiple lines. It is necessary, how ever, in some forms of composing, such as that for mathematical printing or in advertising display, to have greater flexibility and an ability to handle more complicated layouts involving symbols in unusual positions on both straight and curved base lines. These problems cannot be handled on conventional lettering heads, and in metal type techniques give rise to considerable difficulties.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate these difficulties.

The present invention is a lettering head for a photosetting machine, including a beam splitting device for receiving an image of a symbol, means defining two optical paths from the beam splitter, a carriage movable along the optical paths, directing means on said carriage for projecting a light beam from each optical path, two mounting means for mounting photo-sensitive sheets disposed each to intercept one said light beam projected by said directing means and means providing relative movement in two different directions between each mounting means and the carriage, one of said plattens being shielded against extraneous light.

The present invention also provides a photo-setting machine including a lettering head as defined in the last preceding paragraph, a letter holder on which are provided the various symbols that may be printed, a light source for illuminating a selected symbol, an optical system for passing an image of the selected symbol to the lettering head, and a drive mechanism connected to the head to allow for the appropriate letter spacing.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are respectively a sectional elevation and a sectional plan view of a lettering head according to the invention; and

FIGS. 3 and 4 are respectively elevation and plan views of platten moving means in the head shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a lettering head for a photo-setting machine consists of a central casing 10,

aligned optical paths 11 and 12 defined by channels 13 and 14 extending on opposite sides thereof, a carriage movable in the channels, two plattens 16 and 17, and means for producing relative movement of the carriage and the plattens.

The lettering head is, of course, to be used in conjunction with a conventional projection system 15 comprising a letter holder, light source, optical system and drive mechanism, and the casing 10 is therefore provided with a lens 18 for admitting a light beam 19 from the projection system 15. A beam splitter 20, consisting in this embodiment of three prisms 21, 22 and 23 produces from the light beam 19 two equal beams which are directed axially along the optical paths 11 and 12 respectively.

The carriage consists of two interconnected frames 25 and 26 movable respectively on guides 27 and 28 in the channels 13 and 14. Each frame, 25, 26, mounts a lens system 29 and a prism 30 which are included in the optical paths 11 and 12. The frames 25 and 26 are interconnected by a rack 24.

The channels 13 and 14 are each provided with a fixed lens system, 31 and 32 respectively, at their inner ends, whereby the optical paths from the beam splitter 20 pass through the fixed lens systems and the lens systems 29 and are terminated by the prisms 30 which project light beams from the optical paths onto their respective plattens 35 and 36.

The platten 16 is enclosed in a light-tight box 37 and thereby shielded from extraneous light and supports a photosensitive sheet from which the subsequent printing operations are to be carried out, whereas the platten 17 supports a sheet of printing out paper which has the property that it will produce an immediate picture when exposed to strong image light and without the need of developing. A shutter 33 and a filter 34 are provided to be interposed in the optical paths to the plattens 16 and 17 respectively as will be described hereinafter.

The carriage is moved along the head relative to the plattens by means of a gear 38 which engages the rack 24 and is driven through a gear 39 by the letter spacing drive mechanism of the machine. A manually operable clutch (not illustrated) is provided in the drive to the rack 24 to enable the carriage to be moved by hand against the drive.

Also driven from the gear 38 is a gear train which comprises, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, for each platten spur gears 40 and 41, bevel gears 45 and 46, a shaft 47, bevel gears 48 and 49, a shaft 50', bevel gears 51 and 52, a shaft 53, gears 54 and 55, a shaft 56, gears 57 and 58, a shaft 59 and gears 60 and 61, the latter being connected with the platten 16 to cause it to rotate about an axis perpendicular to its surface.

A manually operable clutch 62 is also provided in the drive to the bevel gear 45 so that rotational movement of the plattens may, if desired, be under the control of a handwheel 63.

Vertical movement of the plattens is under the control of a handwheel 64 which drives for each platten a shaft 65 through bevel gears 66 and 67, a pinion 68 driven by the shaft 65 engaging a rack 69 to which a platten is secured for vertical movement.

In use, the image of the symbol selected is passed through the lens 18 and thence to the plattens from the beam splitter 20 the optical paths 11 and 12 and the prisms 30. A permanent record is formed on the photosensitive sheet on the platten 16 while on the platten 17 the printing out paper provides an immediate indication of the overall effect. As each symbol is printed, the car riage is moved an appropriate distance to allow for the correct spacing of the symbols. Vertical spacing is, of course, under the control of the handwheel 64. If it is desired to use a curved base line rotation of the plattens may be elfected either manually or automatically as previously described. The shutter 33 and filter 34 are used when it is desired to experiment with a layout on the sheet of printing out paper without exposing the photosensitive sheet and/ or the printing out paper.

The shutter 33 and filter 34, which are solenoid operated, are normally opened for a controlled period for symbol exposure purposes by signals from the projection system of the photo-setting machine.

What I claim is:

1. A lettering head for a photo-setting machine comprising means for receiving and splitting an image of a character into two optical paths, a carriage movable along said optical paths, means mounted on said carriage for projecting light beams intercepted from said optical paths, means for mounting first and second photosensitive plates to respectively intercept light beams emitted from said projecting means, means for simultaneously moving said mounting means relative to said carriage along two rectilinear lines of travel, rotative drive means connected to the output drive of a letter spacing drive mechanism for simultaneously rotating each of said mounting means identical amount about axes perpendicular to the planes of said plates in accordance with the output of said letter spacing drive mechanism to achieve proper letter spacing and means for shielding one of said mounting means from extraneous light.

2. A lettering head according to claim 1, wherein said carriage is driven along one line of travel by means of a rack and gear combination.

3. A lettering head according to claim 1, wherein said carriage includes two interconnected frames, each carrying a lens system, and said projecting means comprise prisms mounted on said frames.

4. A lettering head according to claim 1, wherein said optical paths are disposed within channels including guide means for slidably supporting said carriage.

5. A lettering head according to claim 1, wherein said bea-m splitting means comprises a combination of three prisms.

6. A lettering head according to claim 2, wherein each mounting means is provided with a rack and gear combination connected to a common drive, for moving said mounting means relative to said carriage along said second line of travel.

7. A lettering head according to claim 6, wherein said common drive is manually operated.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,980,287 11/ 1934 Ogden 95-4.5 2,180,417 11/1939 Huebner 95-4.5 3,149,903 9/ 1964 Merrick 8824 FOREIGN PATENTS 679,930 9/ 1952 Great Britain. 664,880 12/ 1938 Germany.

JOHN M. HORAN, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,347,140 October 17, 1967 David S. Ritchie rtified that error appears in the above numbered pat- It is hereby ce Letters Patent should read as ent requiring correction and that the said corrected below.

In the heading to the printed specification, lines 3 and 4, for "David S. Ritchie, Caxton St. Anniesland, Glas ow W. 3, Scotland" read David S. Ritchie, Glas ow, Scotland, assignor to Barr and Stroud Limited, Annieslan Glasgow,

Scotland Signed and sealed this 31st day of December 1968.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

1. A LETTERING HEAD FOR A PHOTO-SETTING MACHINE COMPRISING MEANS FOR RECEIVING AND SPLITTING AN IMAGE OF A CHARACTER INTO TWO OPTICAL PATHS, A CARRIAGE MOVABLE ALONG SAID OPTICAL PATHS, MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIAGE FOR PROJECTING LIGHT BEAMS INTERCEPTED FROM SAID OPTICAL PATHS, MEANS FOR MOUNTING FIRST AND SECOND PHOTOSENSITIVE PLATES TO RESPECTIVELY INTERCEPT LIGHT BEAMS EMITTED FROM SAID PROJECTING MEANS, MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY MOVING SAID MOUNTING MEANS RELATIVE TO SAID CARRIAGE ALONG TWO RECTILINEAR LINES OF TRAVEL, ROTATIVE DRIVE MEANS CONNECTED TO THE OUTPUT DRIVE OF A LETTER SPACING DRIVE MECHANISM FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY ROTATING EACH OF SAID MOUNTING MEANS IDENTICAL AMOUNT ABOUT AXES PERPENDICULAR TO THE PLANES OF SAID PLATES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OUTPUT OF SAID LETTER SPACING DRIVE MECHANISM TO ACHIEVE PROPER LETTER SPACING AND MEANS FOR SHIELDING ONE OF SAID MOUNTING MEANS FROM EXTRANEOUS LIGHT. 